a thief in the night-第35节

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t's　all。　he　could　do。　　He　was　no　good　on　his　own。　　Even　when　he　put　up　the　low…down　job　of　robbing　his　old　'ome；　it's　believed　he　hadn't　the　'eart　to　take　the　stuff　away；　and　Raffles　had　to　break　in　a　second　time　for　it。　　No；　sir；　we　don't　bother　our　heads　about　Bunny；　we　shall　never　hear　no　more　of　'im。　　He　was　a　harmless　sort　of　rotter；　if　you　awsk　me。〃

I　had　not　asked　him；　and　I　was　almost　foaming　under　the　respirator　that　I　was　making　of　my　overcoat　collar。　　I　only　hoped　that　Raffles　would　say　something；　and　he　did。

〃The　only　case　I　remember　anything　about；〃　he　remarked；　tapping　the　clamped　chest　with　his　umbrella；　〃was　this；　and　that　time；　at　all。　events；　the　man　outside　must　have　had　quite　as　much　to　do　as　the　one　inside。　　May　I　ask　what　you　keep　in　it？〃

〃Nothing；　sir。

〃I　imagined　more　relics　inside。　　Hadn't　he　some　dodge　of　getting　in　and　out　without　opening　the　lid？〃

〃Of　putting　his　head　out；　you　mean；〃　returned　the　clerk；　whose　knowledge　of　Raffles　and　his　Relics　was　really　most　comprehensive　on　the　whole。　　He　moved　some　of　the　minor　memorials　and　with　his　penknife　raised　the　trap…door　in　the　lid。

〃Only　a　skylight；〃　remarked　Raffles；　deliciously　unimpressed。

〃Why；　what　else　did　you　expect？〃　asked　the　clerk；　letting　the　trap…door　down　again；　and　looking　sorry　that　he　had　taken　so　much　trouble。

〃A　backdoor；　at　least！〃　replied　Raffles；　with　such　a　sly　look　at　me　that　I　had　to　turn　aside　to　smile。　　It　was　the　last　time　I　smiled　that　day。

The　door　had　opened　as　I　turned；　and　an　unmistakable　detective　had　entered　with　two　more　sight…seers　like　ourselves。　　He　wore　the　hard；　round　hat　and　the　dark；　thick　overcoat　which　one　knows　at　a　glance　as　the　uniform　of　his　grade；　and　for　one　awful　moment　his　steely　eye　was　upon　us　in　a　flash　of　cold　inquiry。　　Then　the　clerk　emerged　from　the　recess　devoted　to　the　Raffles　Relics；　and　the　alarming　interloper　conducted　his　party　to　the　window　opposite　the　door。

〃Inspector　Druce；〃　the　clerk　informed　us　in　impressive　whispers；　〃who　had　the　Chalk　Farm　case　in　hand。　　He'd　be　the　man　for　Raffles；　if　Raffles　was　alive　to…day！〃　　　　〃I'm　sure　he　would；〃　was　the　grave　reply。　　〃I　should　be　very　sorry　to　have　a　man　like　that　after　me。　　But　what　a　run　there　seems　to　be　upon　your　Black　Museum！〃

〃There　isn't　reelly；　sir；〃　whispered　the　clerk。　　〃We　sometimes　go　weeks　on　end　without　having　regular　visitors　like　you　two　gentlemen。　I　think　those　are　friends　of　the　Inspector's；　come　to　see　the　Chalk　Farm　photographs；　that　helped　to　hang　his　man。　　We've　a　lot　of　interesting　photographs；　sir；　if　you　like　to　have　a　look　at　them。〃

〃If　it　won't　take　long；〃　said　Raffles；　taking　out　his　watch；　and　as　the　clerk　left　our　side　for　an　instant　he　gripped　my　arm。　　〃This　is　a　bit　too　hot；〃　he　whispered；　〃but　we　mustn't　cut　and　run　like　rabbits。　　That　might　be　fatal。　　Hide　your　face　in　the　photographs；　and　leave　everything　to　me。　　I'll　have　a　train　to　catch　as　soon　as　ever　I　dare。〃

I　obeyed　without　a　word；　and　with　the　less　uneasiness　as　I　had　time　to　consider　the　situation。　　It　even　struck　me　that　Raffles　was　for　once　inclined　to　exaggerate　the　undeniable　risk　that　we　ran　by　remaining　in　the　same　room　with　an　officer　whom　both　he　and　I　knew　only　too　well　by　name　and　repute。　　Raffles；　after　all。；　had　aged　and　altered　out　of　knowledge；　but　he　had　not　lost　the　nerve　that　was　equal　to　a　far　more　direct　encounter　than　was　at　all。　likely　to　be　forced　upon　us。　　On　the　other　hand；　it　was　most　improbable　that　a　distinguished　detective　would　know　by　sight　an　obscure　delinquent　like　myself；　besides；　this　one　had　come　to　the　front　since　my　day。　Yet　a　risk　it　was；　and　I　certainly　did　not　smile　as　I　bent　over　the　album　of　horrors　produced　by　our　guide。　　I　could　still　take　an　interest　in　the　dreadful　photographs　of　murderous　and　murdered　men；　they　appealed　to　the　morbid　element　in　my　nature；　and　it　was　doubtless　with　degenerate　unction　that　I　called　Raffles's　attention　to　a　certain　scene　of　notorious　slaughter。　　There　was　no　response。　I　looked　round。　　There　was　no　Raffles　to　respond。　　We　had　all。　three　been　examining　the　photographs　at　one　of　the　windows；　at　another　three　newcomers　were　similarly　engrossed；　and　without　one　word；　or　a　single　sound；　Raffles　had　decamped　behind　all。　our　backs。

Fortunately　the　clerk　was　himself　very　busy　gloating　over　the　horrors　of　the　album；　before　he　looked　round　I　had　hidden　my　astonishment；　but　not　my　wrath；　of　which　I　had　the　instinctive　sense　to　make　no　secret。

〃My　friend's　the　most　impatient　man　on　earth！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃He　said　he　was　going　to　catch　a　train；　and　now　he's　gone　without　a　word！〃

〃I　never　heard　him；〃　said　the　clerk；　looking　puzzled。

〃No　more　did　I；　but　he　did　touch　me　on　the　shoulder；〃　I　lied；　〃and　say　something　or　other。　　I　was　too　deep　in　this　beastly　book　to　pay　much　attention。　　He　must　have　meant　that　he　was　off。　　Well；　let　him　be　off！　　I　mean　to　see　all。　that's　to　be　seen。〃

And　in　my　nervous　anxiety　to　allay　any　suspicions　aroused　by　my　companion's　extraordinary　behavior；　I　outstayed　even　the　eminent　detective　and　his　friends；　saw　them　examine　the　Raffles　Relics；　heard　them　discuss　me　under　my　own　nose；　and　at　last　was　alone　with　the　anemic　clerk。　　I　put　my　hand　in　my　pocket；　and　measured　him　with　a　sidelong　eye。　　The　tipping　system　is　nothing　less　than　a　minor　bane　of　my　existence。　　Not　that　one　is　a　grudging　giver；　but　simply　because　in　so　many　cases　it　is　so　hard　to　know　whom　to　tip　and　what　to　tip　him。　　I　know　what　it　is　to　be　the　parting　guest　who　has　not　parted　freely　enough；　and　that　not　from　stinginess　but　the　want　of　a　fine　instinct　on　the　point。　　I　made　no　mistake；　however；　in　the　case　of　the　clerk；　who　accepted　my　pieces　of　silver　without　demur；　and　expressed　a　hope　of　seeing　the　article　which　I　had　assured　him　I　was　about　to　write。　　He　has　had　some　years　to　wait　for　it；　but　I　flatter　myself　that　these　belated　pages　will　occasion　more　interest　than　offense　if　they　ever　do　meet　those　watery　eyes。

Twilight　was　falling　when　I　reached　the　street；　the　sky　behind　St。　Stephen's　had　flushed　and　blackened　like　an　angry　face；　the　lamps　were　lit；　and　under　every　one　I　was　unreasonable　enough　to　look　for　Raffles。　　Then　I　made　foolishly　sure　that　I　should　find　him　hanging　about　the　station；　and　hung　thereabouts　myself　until　one　Richmond　train　had　gone　without　me。　　In　the　end　I　walked　over　the　bridge　to　Waterloo；　and　took　the　first　train　to　Teddington　instead。　　That　made　a　shorter　walk　of　it；　but　I　had　to　grope　my　way　through　a　white　fog　from　the　river　to　Ham　Common；　and　it　was　the　hour　of　our　cosy　dinner　when　I　reached　our　place　of　retirement。　There　was　only　a　flicker　of　firelight　on　the　blinds：　I　was　the　first　to　return　after　all。　　It　was　nearly　four　hours　since　Raffles　had　stolen　away　from　my　side　in　the　ominous　precincts　of　Scotland　Yard。　　Where　could　he　be？　　Our　landlady　wrung　her　hands　over　him；　she　had　cooked　a　dinner　after　her　favorite's　heart；　and　I　let　it　spoil　before　making　one　of　the　most　melancholy　meals　of　my　life。

Up　to　midnight　there　was　no　sign　of　him；　but　long　before　this　time　I　had　reassured　our　landlady　with　a　voice　and　face　that　must　have　given　my　words　the　lie。　　I　told　her　that　Mr。　Ralph　（as　she　used　to　call　him）　had　said　something　about　going　to　the　theatre；　that　I　thought　he　had　given　up　the　idea；　but　I　must　have　been　mistaken；　and　should　certainly　sit　up　for　him。　　The　attentive　soul　brought　in　a　plate　of　sandwiches　before　she　retired；　and　I　prepared　to　make　a　night　of　it　in　a　chair　by　the　sitting…room　fire。　　Darkness　and　bed　I　could　not　face　in　my　anxiety。　　In　a　way　I　felt　as　though　duty　and　loyalty　called　me　out　into　the　winter　s　night；　and　yet　whither　should　I　turn　to　look　for　Raffles？　　I　could　think　of　but　one　place；　and　to　seek　him　there　would　be　to　destroy　myself　without　aiding　him。　　It　was　my　growing　conviction　that　he　had　been　recognized　when　leaving　Scotland　Yard；　and　either　taken　then　and　there；　or　else　hunted　into　some　new　place　of　hiding。　　It　would　all。　be　in　the　morning　papers；　and　it　was　all。　his　own　fault。　　He　had　thrust　his　head　into　the　lion's　mouth；　and　the　lion's　jaws　had　snapped。　　Had　he　managed　to　withdraw　his　head　in　time？

There　was　a　bottle　at　my　elbow；　and　that　night　I　say　deliberately　that　it　was　not　my　enemy　but　my　friend。　　It　procured　me　at　last　some　surcease　from　my　suspense。　　I　fell　fast　asleep　in　my　chair　before　the　fire。　　The　lamp　was　still　burning；　and　the　fire　red；　when　I　awoke；　but　I　sat　very　stiff　in　the　iron　clutch　of　a　wintry　morning。　　Suddenly　I　slued　round　in　my　chair。　　And　there　was　Raffles　in　a　chair　behind　me；　with　the　door　open　behind　him；　quietly　taking　off　his　boots。

〃Sorry　to　wake　you；　Bunny；〃　said　he。　　〃I　thought　I　was　behaving　like　a　mouse；　but　after　a　three　hours'　tramp　one's　feet　are　all。　heels。〃

I　did　not　get　up　and　fall　upon　his　neck。　　I　sat　back　in　my　chair　and　blinked　with　bitterness　upon　his　selfish　insensibility。　　He　should　not　know　what　I　had　been　through　on　his　account。

〃Walk　out　from　town？〃　I　inquired；　as　indifferently　as　though　he　were　in　the　habit　of　doing　so。

〃From　Scotland　Yard；〃　he　answered；　stretching　himself　before　the　fire　in　his　stocking　soles。

〃Scotland　Yard？〃　I　echoed。　　〃Then　I　was　right；　that's　where　you　were　all。　the　time；　and